Guide To Scuba Diving In Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a popular destination for scuba divers, and with good reason. From the shoreline in the east to the dozens of inlets and keys, to the walls on the south coast, the island has something to offer divers of all experience levels. Puerto Rico is a self-governing U.S. territory. That means that you don’t need a passport in order to visit Puerto Rico. If you want to visit the Caribbean without a passport, Puerto Rico is a fantastic destination.
Best Scuba Diving Spots In Puerto Rico
While it’s easy to visit Puerto Rico from the U.S., “convenience” is not the reason that it’s popular. Puerto Rico is a beautiful territory, nestled away in clear, clean waters. The archipelago is rich with history and committed to conservation. Large stretches are dedicated as ecological preserves. It takes work to keep a tourist destination clean and beautiful, but Puerto Rico is committed to doing that work.
From island getaways like Isla de Mona to bays and reefs like La Parguera and Humacao’s Basslet Reef, Puerto Rico has something for divers of all experience levels and preferences. Let’s take a look at some of the most renowned.
Vieques
Vieques is a great spot for beginners. The island has plenty of dive sites, including several coral reefs. The waters are easy and clear, and Blue Tang Reef, Lobster Reef, and Angel Reef are all easily accessible. Topside, there are several respected galleries of contemporary Caribbean art and top-notch accommodations.
You can reach Vieques by ferry or by air. You can also take a scuba charter.
Fajardo (beginner)
With plenty of reefs and mini-walls, Fajardo is a good spot for easy dives and snorkeling. If you’re a beginning or intermediate diver, come check it out! Like La Parguera, Fajardo features a rare bioluminescent bay. You can find even more diving excursions off of the coast of Fajardo. at islands like Palomino, Icacos, and Palominito. Fajardo is also the gateway to the “Spanish Virgin Islands,” including Culebra and Vieques.
La Parguera
La Parguera is a small fishing village in southwest Puerto Rico with something for divers of all experience levels. Nearby mangrove islands offer shallow dives and encounters with unique creatures, including manatees. The bioluminescent bay here draws visitors to see glowing algae light up the water at night. La Parguera is also home to The Wall, one of Puerto Rico’s most famous diving spots. The Wall is an enormous underwater drop in the shelf that stretches for 22 miles, with incredible visibility and marine life that includes octopi and sharks.
Culebra
Culebra is an island municipality with over 50 dive sites. These sites include a wide range of difficulty levels, making it great for everyone. There are snorkeling trips and coral reefs like the one at Carlos Rosario. There are also sunken vessels reclaimed by marine life and caves for advanced divers to explore. Many of the dive shops and tour groups here specialize in classes for beginners and snorkeling in addition to trips out to more remote points of interest, to dive somewhere a little less crowded.
Humacao
Located on the east coast, Humacao is home to 24 diving sites. The dives are generally a little deeper (and a little choppier) than the water at Fajardo. But the variety of sites means that there’s still plenty to do for divers of all experience levels. Sites include The Cracks, a network of caves, and The Drift, home to nurse sharks and more. Experienced divers can visit Red Hog, a panoramic wall with an enormous drop. Depending on the season, divers at Humacao might see dolphins, whales, or manatees. Visibility can exceed 100 feet!
There’s plenty to do in Humacao even if you don’t dive. Topside, visitors can experience celebrations like the Breadfruit Festival in September and the Fiesta patronal in December. There are also gorgeous beaches, with plenty of opportunities for fishing snorkeling.
Isla de Mona
Isla de Mona (Mona Island) is home to rich history, including a lighthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. It also has over a dozen beaches, two of which have campsites, and several others which are fantastic for tourism and diving. The whole island is a wildlife preserve, with no permanent residents but plenty of endangered animals.
If you want to visit the island itself (beyond the high-tide mark) you’ll need a permit. You can get a camping permit for up to 3 days, a 1-day visitor’s permit, or a hunting/camping permit (depending on the season) by calling the local government environmental department, the DRNA, at 787-999-2200, ext 2100 (Spanish only) or by working with local tour companies. You can also visit the agency’s office in San Juan. Just make sure that you have a permit before you set out.
Even if you don’t head onto the island itself, there’s plenty to see and do in the water itself. At certain times of year, you can see dolphins in these waters, and even the occasional migrating humpback whale. Due to the remote nature and the water conditions, the area may be best for more experienced divers.
Isla Desecheo
Isla Desecheo is somewhat remote from the rest of the islands. While it belongs to Puerto Rico, it’s not part of the same archipelago as the others. That means that getting there takes a little time. But the trip is worth it. Because it’s so remote, fewer tourists visit. That means its reefs are some of the healthiest and most vibrant in all of Puerto Rico. Attractions include Candyland, a jam-packed, colorful reef named for the brightly-colored board game people say it resembles.
Isla Desecheo is near Isla de Mona, meaning that it, too, is best for experienced divers, and you can find gear from the same dive shops in Mayaguez.
Best Time to Go to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico sits on an archipelago in the Caribbean. The temperatures hover around the 70s and 80s year-round.
The dry season lasts from December to May. The temperature is slightly cooler, both topside and underwater, and the weather is a little less humid. From November to May, humpback whales migrate past Mona Island, giving you an extra incentive to visit. Going during the dry season means better weather, but it also means a higher number of other tourists to deal with. You’ll need to book your accommodations far in advance if you want a good deal.
The rainy season lasts from June to November. The weather is a bit more humid, and it usually rains once a day, though just for a short span of time. The average temperatures are 4 or 5 degrees cooler in the air and the water. This is also hurricane season, so be sure to watch the weather carefully if planning a rainy season trip. You may want to look into trip insurance, and refundable fares if you’re planning to go during this time of year. Having said all of that, the rainy season has its advantages. This is the off-season for tourism. That means dive sites are much less crowded, and accommodations are cheaper and easier to find.
Diving Gear You’ll Need In Puerto Rico
The temperate waters of Puerto Rico won’t demand that much in the way of specialized gear. Staying equipped for warmer waters is fine.
- Wetsuits. A great wetsuit for tropical waters is the Definition Shorty, 2.5mm. This suit offers comfort and stretch for a wide variety of aquatic activities. It’s manufactured to be as environmentally friendly as possible, with a petroleum-free, limestone neoprene and a solvent-free glue. This suit will keep you comfortable, while offering an impressive range of motion. It’s available in men’s and women’s.
- Fins. There are plenty of fins in the sea, but we’re particularly proud of the Seawing Nova. The pivoting blade and unique geometry give you minimum drag and maximum thrust, making the most of your efforts.
- Masks. Having your own mask means knowing that you’ve got the best, most consistent fit. It also means knowing that the lenses are cared for to your standards. A single lens mask like the Trinidad 3 means you have the biggest field of vision possible to take in all the sights.
Dive shops in Puerto Rico
Whether you’re looking to upgrade, replace, or even rent gear in Puerto Rico, there are plenty of places to go. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite dive shops, as well as a few places to charter a tour.
Dive shops:
- Scuba Dogs
- Caribbean Aquatic Center, (787) 833-6455
- Blue Caribe Dive Center, (787) 741-2522
Dive shops/tour services:
Get out there!
Scuba diving in Puerto Rico is an incredible adventure. To tell the truth, it’s dozens of adventures, and you may be surprised by how many of them you can fit into one trip. Each season offers something different, but whenever you go, there’ll be comfortable water and something unique to see.
For more amazing diving locations, check out the best scuba diving locations in the world.